Guest post: "Do Dogs Dream?" by Sal Barbera

If you're a dog owner, then like me, you've probably watched your pet sleeping.
And after numerous times of seeing that odd 'third eye' and the blinking and nose twitching you've probably started to wonder just what in the world your dog is dreaming about.
I know that: 'Do dogs dream?' isn't an everyday question. But if you own a dog, you wonder about:
·       The eyes rolling around.
·       The paws running through the air whilst lying on their side.
·       The sudden whoop, whoop, whoop sounds.
·       And a tiny growl or low bark.

All while soundly sleeping.

As both an author and illustrator, I've taken some artistic license with my sleeping dog, Max (who is my dog character Sweetles ™) and made some assumptions about his dreams. He didn't mind at all. I asked him.

My wife Sheri and I discussed what events would occur in Max's dreams.

We know he dreamed about the simple things in his life like:
·       A standard poodle at the park.
·       A little girl that had stopped to pet the top of his head and casually tug his ear a bit.
·       A noisy quail family bobbing, pecking and scurrying past the window.

But we decided he must also dream of things more cerebral and important.
Although we never had any concrete evidence we decided that he actually dreamt up profound and ingenious solutions to personal or social problems he encountered during the day. Like social injustice for example.

We liked that idea so much that we applied it to an entire series of books I'm writing called 'A Sweetles Dream'®. (Sweetles is one of the dozens of names that we called Max.)
In the beginning of the books, Sweetles ™ is seen playing in a field or park or marsh and he sees something that he goes home and dreams about. In my first book, Mary Elizabeth The Spotless Cow, he sees a little cow frolicking across the field. That night he dreams of a cow without spots. Sounds so simple, and yet this cow arrives at a new farm where all of the other cows have spots. And so they don't like her because she's different from them. So they won't have anything to do with her. Her challenge is to get them to like her and ultimately become her friend.

This is what can come from wondering what your dog dreams!

I'm going to leave you with Sweetles ™ motto: 'Have fun, learn and play - that's a Sweetles day!'

About the book:

The story of "Mary Elizabeth The Spotless Cow" takes us on the journey she travels to figure out how to get the cows at a new farm to like and accept her.
While she hopes to find friendship at her new home, instead she learns what it means to be different from everyone else. (Spotless!) Mary Elizabeth uses clever ideas and a sense of humor to help her on her quest for friends at the new farm.
This inspiring tale shows how perseverance in spite of obstacles, using a sound thought process to arrive at solutions and the importance of having fun, using humor and enjoying playtime can build friendships.
When you buy this book, 50% of net proceeds go to Phoenix Children’s Hospital Child Life Program to make a difference in the lives of children with critical and life threatening illnesses.

Watch the trailer: http://youtu.be/72fOn1tEbDM
Purchasing information: During the month of October, purchase Mary Elizabeth The Spotless Cow from the Sweetles website for only $12.00 (List price: $17.99). When you buy this book, 50% of net proceeds go to Phoenix Children’s Hospital Child Life Program. Visit http://www.sweetles.com/product/books/mary-elizabeth-the-spotless-cow-book/ for more information.

About the author:

Sal is the author and illustrator of “A Sweetles Dream”® book series. As the Creative Director for Hartman-Barbera llc, a family media & entertainment company, he is also an animator, sculptor, painter and all around fun guy. Sal lives the phrase: “A day without laughter is a wasted day”. To that end, he uses his writing, illustrating and animation skills to create endearing characters and comedic stories.
Sal's sense of humor and empathy for his characters explore personal and social situations in ways that makes it enjoyable for both adults and children to experience together. Born in New York City, Sal moved to North Bergen, NJ where he grew up on a steep hillside neighborhood with his four older sisters. He currently lives in sunny Arizona with his wife and artistic partner, Sheri, who he defines as his inspiration. On any given day Sal might be painting, sculpting, drawing, animating, writing or enjoying one of his favorite pastimes: cooking, television, movies and golf.
Visit Sal Barbera’s website at http://www.salbarbera.com.

Mary Elizabeth The Spotless Cow Virtual Book Tour Schedule

October 1st
Interview at Blogcritics
October 2nd
Book spotlight at The Writer’s Life
October 3rd
Book spotlight at As the Pages Turn
October 4th
Book review at Alicia Finn Noack
October 7th
Book spotlight at 4 the Love of Books
Book spotlight at Literarily Speaking
October 8th
Book spotlight at Between the Covers
October 9th
Book spotlight at The Book Rack
October 10th
October 11th
Guest post at Paperback Writer
Book spotlight at Review from Here
October 14th
October 15th
Book spotlight at Broken Teepee
Book spotlight at Beyond the Books
October 16th
Book review at Lynn’s Corner
Book trailer reveal at If Books Could Talk
October 17th
October 18th
October 21st
Book review at My Devotional Thoughts
Book spotlight at Deco My Heart
October 22nd
Book review at 4 the Love of Books
October 23rd
October 25th
Book review at Mary’s Cup of Tea
October 28th
Book review at Thoughts in Progress
October 30th
Book review at Maureen’s Musings
October 31st
Book review at Blooming with Books
TBD: Book review at Classic Children’s Books

Comments

Cheryl said…
Thanks for hosting Sal today. This is an adorable book. I hope your readers check it out and help support a great cause.
Rosi said…
This looks like a really cute book. Thanks for telling me about it.
Book blogger said…
This is a book for ages 3-9 but all ages can appreciate the message. Racism and prejudice are still a major problem in our world. We still treat people differently if they don’t look like us. This book tackles this issue in a clever, humours and diplomatic way. There are a few aside remarks put in the book specifically for adults that will give them a chuckle. The author is also the illustrator which makes it so much more special. I look forward to reading more books in the series!'